Finally an in-depth video on this guitar! It’s so overlooked. I’ve had mine for almost 19 years and it’s still my main guitar today. Nothing sounds like it or feels like it, clean or driven or fuzzed out, it’s just an expressive beast. Only bummer is that it slips out of tune more than any other guitar I’ve owned, and it’s got a bit of hum, but that’s all a small price to pay for everything else that I love about it.
I’ve played a blueshawk for more than 25 years. Got it used in the late 90’s. For the first few years it was my main guitar in a cover band after the headstock fell off my epiphone Les Paul for the third time. It covers all the tonal range from LP to strat to tele. I love the between Gibson an Fender sound and vibes. These days it’s my open g tuning guitar. As a contrast my regular tuned main guitar is a Fender tc90. The sister and is some ways opposite of this guitar. Two p90’s a set neck, double cut thin line tele body and I threw an epiphone branded Bigsby on it. Magic. Lots of folks get put off by the veri tone switch. I think it’s super
I have a "97" Blueshawk and just love it. Lightweight for long gigs... Varitone Switch gives you great quack... looks good and a fast narrow neck. a little Wampler Delta Blues Pedal and you are good to go... great sustain. Plus it's not your 'run of the mill"
great breakdown of a cool guitar - I like how you cut to the comparison tone consistently when demoing the tones. Makes it easier to hear the nuances I think
Very thorough comparisons! I just got a Blues Hawk myself, 2 weeks ago. I love it. I'm mainly a Strat guy, but I have 10 Gibsons as well. I must say, I prefer the longer scale length. I think it adds some additional twang that many Gibsons are somewhat lacking. The Slug P90's ARE different from the traditional P90's of the LP Special, but they're not bad. I have the 2014 LP Melody Maker as well, and they're fine in that guitar too. Awesome review...thanks for your efforts!
I actually like the sounds the varitone Blueshawk gives in your demo better than what the 3-position selector does on the LP, which didn't come across as having so much range of tones, and position one and no filtering or 'cut' sounding most like the bridge pickup on an LP. Actually your LP sounded pretty similar in every switch position. And I'm definitely a dedicated LP fan so don't anybody get me wrong. I imagine the varitone selector has a different resistor value for each position so, as you say, it simply cuts the frequency response at different levels. A phase switch separate from this would be interesting.
Finally an in-depth video on this guitar! It’s so overlooked. I’ve had mine for almost 19 years and it’s still my main guitar today. Nothing sounds like it or feels like it, clean or driven or fuzzed out, it’s just an expressive beast. Only bummer is that it slips out of tune more than any other guitar I’ve owned, and it’s got a bit of hum, but that’s all a small price to pay for everything else that I love about it.
Man that thing sounds absolutely gorgeous! Love a guitar that excells at light drive tones. So expressive.
note that the 25.5" scale actually is a treat to play
Wow. Best analysis of this model !! Thanks for taking the time
I’ve played a blueshawk for more than 25 years. Got it used in the late 90’s. For the first few years it was my main guitar in a cover band after the headstock fell off my epiphone Les Paul for the third time. It covers all the tonal range from LP to strat to tele. I love the between Gibson an Fender sound and vibes. These days it’s my open g tuning guitar. As a contrast my regular tuned main guitar is a Fender tc90. The sister and is some ways opposite of this guitar. Two p90’s a set neck, double cut thin line tele body and I threw an epiphone branded Bigsby on it. Magic.
Lots of folks get put off by the veri tone switch. I think it’s super
Wish they still made them. I need a spare
I have a "97" Blueshawk and just love it. Lightweight for long gigs... Varitone Switch gives you great quack... looks good and a fast narrow neck. a little Wampler Delta Blues Pedal and you are good to go... great sustain. Plus it's not your 'run of the mill"
great breakdown of a cool guitar - I like how you cut to the comparison tone consistently when demoing the tones. Makes it easier to hear the nuances I think
Very thorough comparisons! I just got a Blues Hawk myself, 2 weeks ago. I love it. I'm mainly a Strat guy, but I have 10 Gibsons as well. I must say, I prefer the longer scale length. I think it adds some additional twang that many Gibsons are somewhat lacking. The Slug P90's ARE different from the traditional P90's of the LP Special, but they're not bad. I have the 2014 LP Melody Maker as well, and they're fine in that guitar too. Awesome review...thanks for your efforts!
Been on my hit list for the last twenty years. Rare as f in Australia :-(
has two nighthawks though. both standard 3's
This is a fantastic video! Thanks for sharing :)
AWESOME review!!👏. I was looking for something different for a Japan guitar shopping trip & came across the Blues Hawk but needed the 411. Bravo!
This is my favourite guitar ever. Folks don’t get it, but I love it.
This guitar lost me at 25.5" scale length...lol. As most of us players get older we want to go easier on the hands...
There's always stepping down in string gauge...
Agreed! 25.5 is a bummer Love the specs otherwise
Your ancestors clawed their way to the top of the food chain and you are afraid of a f$#_ing quarter inch of rosewood
18mm of string length. Cry me a river that sinks your ship does it? You guys need to be more versatile.
Nice - I never heard of this one.
I actually like the sounds the varitone Blueshawk gives in your demo better than what the 3-position selector does on the LP, which didn't come across as having so much range of tones, and position one and no filtering or 'cut' sounding most like the bridge pickup on an LP. Actually your LP sounded pretty similar in every switch position. And I'm definitely a dedicated LP fan so don't anybody get me wrong. I imagine the varitone selector has a different resistor value for each position so, as you say, it simply cuts the frequency response at different levels. A phase switch separate from this would be interesting.
I took lessons at a guitar shop when this came out and I used to play it in the corner. I've always wanted one now I'm bidding in one on Ebay😢
Did you get it? Thinking about grabbing one myself. Never played one but they do damn unique.
Great video. Thank you. Sounds very bland to me. Like a blank slate. I thought I wanted one but I’m not sure now.
Pretty versatile guitar
Hawks sound good compared to 2018 classic..
anyone ever tell you that you look like Trevor Keith from Face To Face?
a guitar.
One heck of a guitar. Cheers -Ryan
Its a guitar
Sorry that joke was already made. Cheers -Ryan